Palpitations

Palpitations

What are Palpitations?

Palpitations is the term describing any awareness of your heart beat. It can be a fast, slow or irregular heart beat. It may last seconds, minutes, hours or days.

Symptoms

Palpitations are very common, and do not necessarily signify heart disease, and sometimes can even occur with a normal heart rhythm. However, Palpitations should be investigated if the symptoms are bothersome.

Diagnosis

Your Cardiologist can often determine the cause of Palpitations from the description given. If necessary, a 24-hour heart monitor (Holter Monitor) can be worn to document the heart rhythm at the time of symptoms. If no symptoms are experienced during this time frame, a 1-2 week Event Monitor can be worn. There is also a small implantable monitor which can be placed under the skin on your chest (below the clavicle) that can monitor the heart beat continuously. It can be programmed to record abnormal heart rates automatically, and it has a patient activator that can initiate a recording whenever you feel symptoms.

Treatment

Investigations usually include Echocardiography, to assess your heart structure and function, uncommon to exclude uncommon abnormalities in the heart that may present with palpitations. Most patients with palpitations have a structurally normal heart, then treatment is based on symptoms. Not all patients require treatment of their palpitations, if not too bothersome. In other patients, simple medication can alleviate the symptoms.

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STEPS TO PREVENT SPREAD OF COVID-19

Thank you to all our patients who have attended our practice so far during the Covid-19 pandemic began. Your understanding and cooperation with new procedures we have in place to protect us all and ensure we comply with government guidelines is very much appreciated.

When attending our rooms you will notice changes such as reduced seating in our waiting room, distancing markings on the floor, protective screens, increased signage on our doors and walls and staff using protective clothing and equipment. Whilst this may seem overwhelming to some, the purpose is for your safety and that of our staff. Please be assured though that our team remain dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and cardiac care.

It is important not to neglect your cardiac health during this crisis and we remain committed to providing all of our usual services.

If you have symptoms of fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle soreness, loss of sense of smell and taste- we advise you contact your GP or local Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND OUR PRACTICE if you have any of the symptoms above – please call our team on 9592 2177 to advise. We offer telehealth consulting so you can remain in direct contact with your cardiologist when you cannot attend.

Other measures we are taking include:

Increased cleaning regimes throughout the day

Cashless payments only

Requesting that you call us from the car upon arrival so you can be advised when you can enter

Asking you to attend alone (where appropriate) to reduce numbers in the practice